I should never read Mets message boards. I shouldn't. Because sports
boards can get vicious. I was never one to hate on a player on the
team I liked. I just always grew attached to the players on the team
and if they were struggling, I felt bad for them. I never got angry
with them, I just felt for them. Heck, even if a player had a bad
year, I hated to see them get traded away or leave. But clearly, not
everyone goes about it that way. Which I should understand, and
logically I do, but it is still so hurtful to read it, especially
when the comments are directed at Tom Glavine, a guy who I've
followed for 14 years. Especially when the comments are dripping
with some venom.

So anyway, I ventured on to a Mets board today and read, even though
I knew it was a bad idea. People posting to say he's TRYING to lose
when he pitches against the Braves. He must still be on their
payroll. The mets should just get rid of him. He's done NOTHING for
the ballclub, for the team. NOTHING since he got here. He can't
pitch, he's garbage. hall of fame? HA. Give that dream up. He's a
whiny SOB who does nothing but complain after every game. Etcetera,
Etcetera, Etcetera.

I'm truly appalled. I cannot even comprehend any of that. ANY of
that. The guy was an All-Star last year and had a 3.60 era for the
season and he's done nothing for the club? The guy jumps headfirst
and gets involved in Mets charities like for 9/11 children and he's
done nothing for the club? He the driving force to get baseball
involved with CureSearch and he's done nothing? He received some
Sharp Pitcher of the Year award on Sunday but the guy's crap for the
Mets? What?

And he complains and whines? Are they crazy? I read any article that
has Tom's freakin' name in it and I have never read anything that
sounds like him whining and complaining after a loss. NEVER. I'm
absolutely livid to read crap like that. This is why...this is one
reason why it hurts and is so frustrating when he pitches poorly.
Because of idiots like this running their mouth. I just want him to
pitch spectacular each and every time out (which is impossible, I
know) because I just want to shove it in these people's faces. To
prove them wrong.

It's such a rotten feeling to read such venom spouted off about a
guy that you've followed for so long. About a guy who you've met
several times and is just a GOOD guy and doesn't deserve it.

But that's fine. Let them run their mouths. Let them say such rude
comments. All it does is make me mad and fuel me. All it does is
make me bound and determined to try to make my Glavine web site (and
this message board) the absolute best it can possibly be, to show
folks that not everyone thinks that way about him. That not everyone
is spouting off such negativity around him. That there is someone
out there, regardless of how he pitches, that is still going to
cheer him when he walks off that mound, instead of showering him
with a chorus of boos. Because he deserves better than that,
regardless of what the scoreboard says.

Thanks for letting me vent.